Table



TABLE Filed May 14, 1943 FIG.

FIG. 2.

4 R. 7 O MN M 1 EE w fi 1R0 am X F 2 T B T A ms TE S 0 MY B W O 2 5 G W F 5 V mwvm l! 5 a, w r+ m V F 5 ,2 g Y Patented Nov. 13, 1945 TABLE Walter Franklin Breen, Lancaster, and Moses Brendle Good, Ephrata Township, Lancaster County, Pa., assignors to Hamilton Watch Company, Lancaster, Pa.

Application May 14, 1943, Serial No. 486,956 3 Claims. (01. 311-84) This invention relates to tables and more particularly to that type of table which has folding legs and if generally used with large numbers of similar tables and where it is often necessary to store said tables in a compact space.

In factories or organizations where a cafeteria is often used for other purposes and it is very desirable to remove the tables usually used for cafeteria purposes, it has heretofore been an unnecessarily long and sometimes difficult task. Tables, as such, are unhandy articles of furniture to store, and take up almost as much space stored as when spread out. Also breakage of the legs which, when extended, are especially vulnerable to the weight of other tables if piled on one another, and the strain of handling. This weakening of the legs makes them unfit for the hard service which they must undergo in the usual cafeteria. This harsh treatment, plus the constant moving of the tables in clearing the cafeteria for other purposes, makes the usual folding table of little or no use.

It is the object of this invention to present a table having folding legs, which when folded may be stored with others of its kind in a compact space and which can be handled without danger of damage to the piece of furniture.

It is the object of this invention to provide a table having folding legs and protecting sides which thoroughly protect said legs when in folded position.

It is the object of this invention to provide a table having folding legs which when in set up position is braced to provide against'any relative movement between the legs and table surface.

It is the object of this invention to provide means for adjusting the brace so that regardless of outside wear or shrinkage due to internal stress the table will be thoroughly braced against relative movement between the legs and the table surface.

It is a further object of this invention to provide side pieces extending downward from the table surface which will protect the legs when in folded position.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide means for locking the supporting parts in folded position.

It is a further object to provide means for looking all the parts of the table in folded position with a single locking means.

It is a further object to provide a table which when in folded position presents no projections beyond its table surface on one side and a plane formed by the lower edges of the protecting side pieces.

It is a further object to provide a table which may be set up or dismantled without the use of any tools.

This invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a side view of the table set up.

Fig. 2- is an end view of the table.

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the table with the legs folded and the other part secured in position for storing.

Fig. e is a detailed action showing the bracing means for supporting the table legs in set up position.

Fig. 5 is a section, with parts omitted, showing the brace support and pin holding means.

Fig. 6 is a section with parts omitted showing the brace lock and wedge compartment.

As illustrated the table has a surface I having downwardly projecting side pieces 2, legs 3 and 4 and a brace 5.

The table in a set up position occupies a space 8 ft. x 2 ft. x 2% ft.; in folded position occupies 8 ft. x 2 ft. x ft., a ratio of about 8:1. The relationship of its width to its length permits the table to be grouped to form a platform or the like.

The legs 3 and 4 are secured to the under side of the table surface by hinges 6 and 1 arranged so that the edges 8 and 9 of the legs firmly abut the underside of the table surface when in set up position. The legs are tapered to a bottom width just sufficiently small to fit inside the side pieces 2 and terminating in feet H). A rectangular opening II is made in each of the legs to receive the brace 5.

The brace 5 is a Single sturdy plank, notched adjacent each end at l2 and having a central hole I3 and holes l4 in said notches.

Wedges l5 and I6 are used in conjunction with the brace to support the table in set up position. Secured to the under side of the table are brace supports ll, a wedge receiving box I 8, locking pins l9 and a bolt 20. A thumb screw 2| threaded into a seated nut 22 is part of the leg construction. I

For purposes of illustration, consider the table in folded position as shown in Fig. 3. To set up the table it is only necessary to slide the bolt 20 from the hole l3 in the brace 5. Slide the brace toward the center of the table releasing the brace 5 from the pins I9. The legs are swung on hinges 6 and l to supporting position, the edges 8 and 9 limiting the movement of said legs and also positioning said legs vertically or at right angles to the table surface. The brace is then placed in the openings II, the notches I2 being uppermost. Wedges I5 and I6 are removed from the box I8 being uncovered by removal of the brace. These wedges are pushed by hand below the brace and into the opening I I, forcing theznotched portion of'the. brace. up on the leg' as shown at 23 in Fig. 4. Screws 2|, which are not shown applied in Fig. 3, are threaded into seated nut 22 and bearing against the wedge firmly locks the table in set up posirtion.

It is only necessary to reverse the process to dismantle the table for storing. When in dismantled condition the thumb screws may, of

course, be left in the legs and the brace held only by the bolt and the pins. lfipreventssmovement of the folded legs and loss of the. wedgev and said pins to hold said legs in folded position, and means for locking said brace in holding position.

2. A table comprising a table top surface, protecting sides extending downward from said sur- 'said protecting sides and receivable in said brace holes, a housing compartment carried on the under. side of said surface and adapted to be covered bysaid brace; and means for locking said brace onsaid bracesupports and in cooperation with saidpinsto. cover said housing compartment and secure said legs in folded position.

3': A table comprising a table top surface, protecting. sides extending downward from said surface, legs hinged to the underside of said surface andlmovable to folded position substantially parallelto and'incontact with the underside of said table top surface, an open compartment attached to the underside of said table top'surface and adapted'to house movable parts, a separable brace for securing-said'legs in saidfolded position, said brace extending over and forming a cover for said open compartment when in saidleg'securing position and means for locking said brace in said leg securing and compartment covering position.

WALTER FRANKLIN BREEN. MOSES BRENDLE' GOOD. 

